August 14 message
Good Afternoon: I hope you have all had a good week. A few items to share with you this week.
County Fairs: Thanks to all for you extra efforts in making the County Fairs a positive experience for the program participants and a great program show case for Extension. Your extra efforts are appreciated. Six fairs in our region are now "in the books'. Renville and Lac qui Parle are upcoming.
Farmfest / Farm Family Recognition. This year's Farmfest is also history. Attendance at this year's Farm fest was up each of the three days by 7 % for a total attendance of 43,978 people. The University tent was also well attended and focused on renewable energy, emerald ash borer, current agronomic climactic and farm economic concerns and general University promotion. Seventy two Counties participated in the Farm Family Recognition event and 60 families attended the recognition program. Farm family recognition information, including photos and family descriptions are available at the Farm Family website: http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/Photos.html
Upcoming NEP Database training. Just a reminder that the NEP Database training is scheduled for October of County based Support Staff and NEA's. Invitations to the training were sent previously. Travel expense for this training will be covered by the State program.
MS TRAM update: I'm happy to report that I survived the MS TRAM, (290 mile bike ride across the state). More Importantly, over $850,000 was raised that week to support Multiple Sclerosis research and support programs for people living with MS.
Have a great weekend, (I will be off on Monday, August 17, but will return on Tuesday).
Bob